Steve Daines, a senator with close ties with Donald Trump, tries to bring the president to name him as a special interview in China to help ensure a meeting with Xi Jinping who could open the way to a summit between the leaders.
The Montana Republican will go to Beijing next week to attend the China Development Forum (CDF), a high -level annual event in Beijing which is assisted by dozens of heads of American, European and Japanese chef.
Several people familiar with the situation said that Daines wanted the appointment sent to facilitate a meeting with the Chinese president after the forum which would be much more difficult without supporting it.
Two people said Daines launched the people in Trumps orbit. But none of the people who spoke to the financial times on condition of anonymity could confirm if Daines had spoken directly to Trump. The White House refused to comment.
Dainesss Office said that he did not have the title of special envoy but coordinated in close collaboration with the White House about his trip to China. Asked before the publication if Daines tried to organize a meeting with XI and always tried to obtain the designation of the special envoy, his office did not comment.
After his publication, his office said he was not looking for the designation and had not asked for it.
Senator Daines plans to go to China next week and will carry the first message of America presidents on the need to protect American jobs, establish trade between the two countries and make the flow and the funding of fentanyl from China, said his office.
Daines, who spent six years in China with Procter & Gamble, told the associates that a meeting with XI on behalf of Trump could help improve American-Chinese relations, according to people familiar with the idea.
His idea was greeted by certain American companies who wish to prevent more turbulence in relations with Beijing. Trump imposed a 20% tariff on imports from China, but he brought a less hostile tone to Beijing than with allies like Canada and Mexico and the EU.
Beijing uses CDF to promote investments in China. The event also offers heads of management the possibility of engaging with senior Chinese officials. Last year, Apple Tim Cook chief met Chinese Prime Minister Li Qiang. While dozens of business leaders participate in the forum each year, American politicians have generally not attended.
People familiar with discussions between Washington and Beijing since Trump took office said that the two parties had not had serious discussions on a possible summit between the two presidents.
Daines was one of the first Republican senators to approve Trump for the president before his campaign in 2024. Last year, Trump made the favor by exhorting the Montana legislator to present himself to the republican leader of the Senate.
The senator and his donors in the private sector wanted to keep the proposal sent silent to make the healing administration officials less likely, such as the White House sales advisor, Peter Navarro, would try to persuade the president that it was a bad idea, according to people familiar with the situation.
Some US leaders of management are afraid of facing a reaction to Washington for having attended the CDF, which will be held on March 23 and 24, given the Bellicist feeling towards China on Capitol Hill. Business leaders are waiting for the hope of a possible meeting with XI after the CDF event.
While Trump has appointed several Chinese vocal Hawks, including Marco Rubio as Secretary of State and Mike Waltz as a national security advisor, Washington experts find it difficult to determine the position that Trump will address a range of national security issues.
